Incident Overview
On approach to Johannesburg-Jan Smuts Airport, a twin-engine aircraft suffered an in-flight explosion. The aircraft broke in two and crashed in an industrial area in Germiston, approximately 13 kilometers southwest of the airport. The cockpit was found about 250 meters from the main wreckage. All 17 occupants were killed.
Investigation Findings
Official investigation determined that the accident was the consequence of an in-flight explosion caused by the detonation of a bomb. A mineworker, who was encountering marital and financial problems, boarded the plane at Phalaborwa Airport with a bomb consisting of nitroglycerin and ammonium nitrate. He had recently contracted a significant life insurance policy.
Aftermath
Authorities recovered wreckage from the industrial area, including the separated cockpit section. The investigation focused on the origin of the bomb and the background of the individual who brought it aboard.